
(ATR) Thomas Konietzko, president of the German Canoe Federation (DKV), makes his candidacy for the office of International Canoe Federation (ICF) president public.
After four years as vice-president of the ICF, Konietzko will apply for the highest office in the ICF. The election will be held during the congress in Manila, Philippines from April 22-25, 2021.
"Jose Perurena-Lopez will not run for president next year," said Konietzko. "As a result, many friends from other international federations actually approached me and encouraged me to apply. My goal, as I have already done as Vice President, will be to further develop canoeing in Asia, America and Africa. Canoeing must become more present in this market. As President, I would also like to emphasize even more what excellent disciplines and opportunities we offer as canoeists. By this I do not only mean Olympic sports, but also our non-Olympic sports and of course recreational sports".
Konietzko, as vice president of the ICF, has already been able to reform the Olympic canoeing program by initiating a commission under his leadership to organize an equal number of disciplines for men and women from the Olympic Games in Tokyo.
"This was not an easy task", says Konietzko. "A certain diplomatic skill was needed to gather the various national federations behind the proposal."
Konietzko also sees great opportunities in the marketing of the federation
"Jose Perurena has already given very good impulses here," says Konietzko. "We have made a big step in the area of live streaming or television contracts. But you always have to be very innovative in terms of media and keep your finger on the pulse.
Perurena, 75, has been president of ICF since 2008. He replaced the late Ulrich Feldhoff (Oberhausen) in this office after a 10-year presidency. Perurena's term was extended when the ICF moved the congress from 2020 to next year due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Konietzko can look back on a historic career after about two decades of voluntary work in the association. After being elected Vice President Youth in the German Canoeing Association in 2005, he took over the office of DKV President from Olaf Heukrodt five years later. In 2016 he became Vice President of the International Canoe Federation.
Homepage photo: ICF
Written by Heinz Peter Kreuzer
For general comments or questions,click here.
Your best source of news about the Olympics is AroundTheRings.com, for subscribers only.
Últimas Noticias
Brigitte Henriques: “The important thing is that the women who are elected should be chosen for their ability, not because we are looking for modernization in terms of gender”
“When I was a girl I couldn’t find a club to play soccer in because most of them didn’t work with women,” Henriques tells Around the Rings during an in-depth interview in Crete, Greece.

The Hula Report: Winds of Change for ANOC in Crete
New leaders coming for peak Olympic group. Whether other candidates emerge in the months ahead, a contested election for the ANOC presidency will be a first for the organization.

Gilles Gilbert Gresenguet, presidential candidate for AFCNO: “We must take advantage of Paris 2024 to bring the Olympic Games back to French”
The elections take place November 18, and Abakar Djermah Aumi, president of the Chad Olympic Committee, is also aiming to win them.

USOPC announces 613-member 2020 U.S. Olympic Team

Roger Federer pulls out of Tokyo Olympics: "I am greatly disappointed"
(ATR) Federer cites "a setback with my knee" for the decision.
